Tokyo had a net outflow of people for the first time in 9 years in the month of December 2008 - 73 people! The annual inflow of residents also declined in 2008. In 2008, the net inflow of residents into Tokyo was 83,000, the highest of Japan's prefectures ahead of Kanagawa, Chiba & Aichi.

Source: International Affairs & Communications Ministry

Tokyo's taxis declined in number in December 2008 to 54,863 - a drop of 546 cabs from the previous December. The average daily income for a cab operating in central Tokyo was 46,932 yen - a decline of 14% on the previous 12 months.

Source: Kanto District Transport Bureau

Pedestrian deaths topped vehicle deaths for the first time in 34 years in 2008. Of the 5,115 traffic-related deaths in Japan in 2008, 1,721 were pedestrians compared to 1,710 passengers or drivers of vehicles. There were 990 deaths involving motorcycles and 717 fatalities involving bicycles.

Source: National Police Agency

The number of foreign nationals who overstayed their visas has halved from 219,000 to 113,000 over the last five years. The number of illegal immigrants also fell in the same period from an estimated 30,000 to between 15-23,000.